As I read the book, I always felt Nathan was simply feeling guilty over what happened to his platoon. Therefore, he made a conscious decision to never let down God again. I think that Nathan saw this mission to the Congo as his chance of redeeming himself in the eyes of God. Amy had mentioned in class the family who had gone on a mission to establish a school. This was so far removed from Prices's original intentions. It sounded like this man already had love in his heart. As a result, the premise was even more successful. Nathan's trip was one of selfishness; this trip was exclusively for him and not for the well being of others. His ignorance of the culture his shown time and time again.
As I finished the book, the closest literature parallel I could recollect is "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Price in comparison to Jonathon Edwards, "enlightens" the congregation on how their lives will not be spared because at any time a wrathful God can remove his hand and these sinners will be doomed to eternal suffering. Somone had mentioned in class how Price refers primarily to the Old Testament and never preaches the love and forgiveness of Jesus. Personally, I feel reference to this section would have been more appropriate. However, Price was looking for an immediate transformation. Maybe he felt intimidation would be more motivating for this "savages."
What is even more ironic is his own family struggles internally with the importance of religion. Rachel mentions how distraught her father would be if he could see what she became-not an obedient housewife, but an independent self-centered individual. Now where did that personality trait come from? The entire family gives a "voice" to Nathan until his horrific death by fire at the end. If only he had forgiven himself, perhaps the outcome and the demise of the family would not have occurred.
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The Posionwood Bible is fiction, therefore, a novel.